Display device



R. L. JOYCE DISPLAY DEVICE Oct. 3, 1939.

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 7, 1937 w s M R 3 2 N Ll". E 5 v m L" 4 .L 32 l 0 j 4. 2. 4 4.,/ K u lhlliv.. .lxlflll 6 0 M rl-- 5 3 1. 1-1i L llll--.Pink ,4 ,e 0 O 7 n 6 u 2 .n50 1 O O 8 n 2 l' Z 4 2 6,113 u W.I1\\5 46/ n 4 u .1 3 1 f1/3 8 6 6 4 J lllmI .VL f, m f... M 6 4 i 4 ATTORNEY R.L. JOYCE .DISPLAY DEVICE Oct.A 3, 1939.

Filed July 7, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY.

Oct. 3, 1939;,

R. l.. .uoYcfslF DISPLAY DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 7, 1937NVENT I@ ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 3, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2Claims.

My invention relates to display devices, and more particularly todevices for displaying articles, such as Samples of fabric and the like.

One of the objects of my present invention is to provide a displaydevice in which the hinged shelves, used for carrying the displays ofmerchandise, are adapted to be arranged parallel with one another andare each movable by longitudinal displacement.

In carrying out the above object it is a further object of my inventionto provide each Shelf with guiding means which means are associated withthe shelf on opposite ends of one edge thereof, the guiding means beingmovable along tracks, for guiding the shelf during the longitudinaldisplacement thereof and being pivoted, with respect to the track forallowing partial rotational movement of the shelf around the guidingmeans when such movement is desired.

It is a further object to provide guiding means for each shelf, whichmeans are disposed at opposite ends of the one edge of the shelf, suchguiding means being associated with one another.

so that they are substantially unitary and so that they rotate, orpivot, concomitantly during longitudinal displacement of the Shelf.

It is a further object to provide spacing means for spacing the shelvesone from another when they are in the stacked position, the spacingmeans in some cases being integral with the aforementioned guidingmeans.

It is a further object to provide each shelf with means for attachingthe displays thereto, said means permitting ready removal of, oraddition to, the displays on the shelf.

It is a further object to provide each shelf with a cross bar which isdisposed so as to be slidable across the shelf for further retaining thedisplays in position.

It is a still further object to provide a label holder for each shelf,which holder is movably carried by the cross bar.

Other and further objects and advantages will be apparent from thefollowing description, reference being had to the accompanying drawingswherein preferred forms of embodiments of the present invention areclearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front view of the display device with the shelves in thestacked position;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the device;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the device, the presdotted lines, in arevolved position and a fourth shelf on the base of the device;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view, partially in section, of one end of atrack showing the means utilized for securing the same to the base;

Fig, '7 is a top view of one of the guide means;

Fig. 8 is a side view of Fig. "I showing the offset spacing meansprovided on the guide ring bracket;

Fig. 9 is a view of a shelf handle and support spacer, taken on line 9-9of Fig. 4, the view also showing the adjustable rod for preventingdisplacement of the displays;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary side view of the label holder;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line Il--Il of Fig. 6showing a reenforcing plate;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line I2-I2 of Fig. 9showing the adjustable rod and one support bracket therefor;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line l3-l3 of Fig. 4showing the spring fastening means for the displays;

Fig. 14 is a plan view of a display device employing another form ofguiding means;

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary view of the reverse side of the shelf shown inFig. 14 with part of the shelf cut away to show the guide bushings andguide rod;

Fig. '16 is a fragmentary View on an enlarged scale of one end of theguide rod utilized in Fig. 15 showing one of the guide bushingstherefor;

Figl 1'7 is a Section of the rolled edge of the shelf taken on lineH-I'I of Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary sectional view of another type of track showingone end of the guiding means;

Fig. 19 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line I9--I9 of Fig. 18;

Fig. 20 is a sectional view taken on line 20-20 of Fig. 18;

Fig. 21 is a fragmentary side view of still another form of track andguiding means, showing the mounting bracket for attaching the track tothe base; and

Fig. 22 is a sectional View taken on line 22-22 of Fig. 21.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 12, a sheet metal base 20 isutilized to support and carry the various parts of a display device 2|.The base 20 comprises four vertical side walls 22 and a top section 24.The base 20 is fabricated, in its preferred form, so that the top 24 isat an angle to the horizontal, to permit more ready examination of themerchandise to be displayed. The side walls 22 are bent inwardly at thelower edges thereof to form flanges 26. Suitable downwardly extendingprojections 21 are formed in the flanges 26 to act as gliders for thedevice 2l so that the device 2| may be easily slid along a counter or afloor.

Two tracks 28 and 30, of substantially inverted U shape metal tubing,are mounted on the top 24 and extend substantiallytthe length of thebase at the front and back sides thereof and comprise two upwardlyextending portions 29 and a connecting member 3|. and 30 are secured tothe top 24 of base 20 by screws 32, lwhich screws pass through'holes 34in the top 24 and are threaded into `.bushings v,3.6. These bushings arepressed into the open ends of the tubular tracks 28 and 30; The bushings36 may be slightly tapered, and knurled as at 31 to hold the bushingswithin the tubes Vand to prevent them from turning. If Ydesired thebushings 36 may be staked within the tubes after they have been pressedinto position. Thus the screws 32 attach .the tracks 28 and Srigidly tothe base y20 to `form a substantially unitary frame structure therewith.In some cases, triangular shaped reenforcing members or plates 40, asshown in Fig. 11, are spot-welded to the underside of the top 24, at thefour corners thereof.V These plates reenforce .the top 24 at the ends ofthetracks when the device is to be used `for heavy displays, or when alight gage metal is used in the fabrication vof the base 20.

`In this case the holes- 34 extend through th-e reenforcing members 40as well as through the top 24. If desired, further reenforcements may beprovided for the base 2l].such as channels formed in the top 24 or insome similar and well known manner.

Thetracks` 28 and 30 are utilized to guide a plurality of displaycarrying shelves 42. The shelves 42 are associated with the tracks 28and 36 by ring-like guid-e members 44. The rings 44 are passed over thetracksfZB and 3D before the tracks are secured to the base and arefreely slidable thereon. Two such rings ..44 are provided for each ofthe shelves .42. TheI guide. rings 44 are each pivotally journalled on abracket 4.6 by a screw 48. Brackets 46 are suitably attached to theextremities of one edge of each of the shelves. The brackets 46 areoffset Vas at 52 so that the bearings for the rings 44 are lower thanthe associated shelves 42. This construction is utilized as a means forspacing one shelf from another at one side thereof.'

Handles 54, preferably formed of sheet metal, are suitably attachedtothe` shelves 42 at the side opposite to the edge which carries the guiderings 44. The handles 54 facilitate movement of the shelves when the.device is being used. Each of the handles 54 also include a Ufshapedspacing element 56. The depth to which each spacer 56 extends issubstantially equal to the depth to the offset 52 Aof a bracket 46. Thusthe shelves 42 are-parallelly spaced from one another by the offsets 52of brackets 46 and by spacers 56 of the' handles 54.

vEach of the shelves 42 is provided with a clip arrangement 60'disposedalong one side thereof. The clip 68 is hinged on a rod 6| whichis pivoted to the shelf 42 by rolled over portions ofA the shelf 42 (notshown). One or more coiled springs e2 are utilized lto maintain the @11pto inthe position shown in Fig. 13. The spring orsprings 62 are suitablywound around the'rod'l 'and haveA one tail 63 bearingon the clip 60 andthe other tail 63 bearing Hon; the underside of Athe shelf 42. Samples,forexamplefabrics, may be held in place onthe vshelf'by the ,use of thisThe tracks.. 28 Y a center.

spring clip arrangement, and when desired, may be easily removed.

Adjustable rods 68 are also provided for the shelves 42 and are utilizedto further hold the fabrics -in place. The rods 68 are preferablydisposed as inv Fig. 3. The rods 68 are bent on either end thereof toform a bell crank portion 64 which is journalled in an upright support65 that is carried by the shelf on either side thereof.

The supports 65 are provided with a plurality of inwardly formedprotrusions 66 disposed in a circular arc with the bearing for the rod68 as Thus the bell crank portion of the rod 68 is held between two ofthe protrusions 66 at either end thereof and in this manner may beyieldingly held, due vto the inherent spring lof the rod, in any one ofa plurality of adjustable positions lto accommodate varying thicknesses`of displays on the shelf 42 or to allow removal .of the displays.

Label holders Mare rotatably associated with Vthe cross bars 68. 'Thisvis accomplished by merek ly rolling one side of the holders 14 aroundthe bars 68 as at 16 in Fig. ,10. The label holders maybe made inanysuitable form. In the present embodiment of label holder, three edgesA coverll is provided for the device and is as- -socated with the tracksin the same manner as are the shelves 42. The cover is similar in mostrespects to one of the shelves 42 except for a downwardly extending legor side portion 82.

VThe leg 82 is cut at an angle at the edge thereof as at 8i, so thatwhen the cover is in the open position (see Fig. 5) with edge 8l restingon a flat surface, the top of the cover 88 is at substantially Vthe sameslope as at the top 24 of the base 20.

In use of the device 2|, all the shelves 42 are disposed one above theother and between the tracks 28 and 30 with .the bottom shelf resting onthe base 28. When it is .desirable to display the material carried bythe device, the cover 88 .is placed in position to the right of the base20 .gitudinally to the right until the guide rings have passed thehighest point of the connecting members 3| of the tracks, at' whichinstant the shelves wi-ll move easily to the open position due Ytogravity. All of the-shelves 42 may be displayed successively .in thismaner. It will be noted that the shelves 42 are not .turned but aredisplaced longitudinally with the display'surface always visible vandalways substantially parallel to the top 24. -If it is desired tocompare a sample that is ona shelf in the open position with a samplethat is covered by other of the shelves in the closed position, it ismerely necessary to turn or rotate the shelves that are covering thedesired sample. -This `is accoml plished by revolving `the shelves abouttheir guide .rings to ,assume .the dotted line Aposition'shown P plus.apyjtw Smpls in the display device can be compared simultaneouslywithout removing them from the device.

Another embodiment of construction is shown in Figs. 14 to 17, wherein asingle rod 83 is utilized as a guide means and which includes an eyeportion 84 on either end thereof. 'I'he eye portion 84 is disposed to beslidable over the tracks 28 and 30. The rod 83 is journalled in aplurality of bushings and 86 which are held by the rolled edge of theshelf 42 as shown in Fig. 17, the bushings preferably being spot weldedin place. The bushings 86, which are disposed at either end of theshelf, have a shoulder portion 8B', at the outer end thereof, that abutsthe eye 84. This shoulder 86 provides a smooth bearing surface andeliminates any possibility of the eye catching on the shelf. The rod 83is freely rotatable within the bushings 85 and 86 which permit readydisplacement of the shelf. This embodiment has the advantage ofconcomitant rotational movement of the guide members, since both eyes 84are formed on one rod. For this reason the present constructioneliminates weaving of the guide rings and shelf when the shelf is beingdisplaced which possibility is present when small diameter tracks areutilized.

It is apparent that if desired, the bushings 85 and 86 may be spotwelded to U shaped shell metal straps, which in turn may be welded tothe shelf; in this manner the rolled edge of the shelf can be eliminatedwhen desired.

In the present embodiment, the spacing of the shelves 42 is accomplishedby the supports 65 for the adjustable rod 68 and the longitudinal clip69. Obviously any other suitable spacing means may be utilized.

Another embodiment of track construction is shown in Figs. 18 to 20wherein tracks 81 are utilized and are of substantially C shape in crosssection and having openings or grooves 9| therein. The shelves 42 areprovided with rods 90 attached along one side thereof, which rods havebeen undercut near their extremities as at 92. The ends of the rodsbeyond the undercuts 92 provide ball portions 94. In the assembled form,the undercuts 92 slide within grooves 9| in the tracks and the balls 94slide within the hollow tracks and prevent the rods from being displacedfrom the tracks 81, since the balls 94 are of larger diameter than thegrooves 9| in the C shaped tracks. The tracks 81 may be threaded at theends thereof, as at 96, and may be secured to the top 24 by two nuts 98disposed on either side of the top 24. I'hus the shelves aredisplaceable along the tracks due to the slidable engagement of the rods90 with the tracks.

Another embodiment of track construction is shown in Figs. 21 and 22wherein the tracks |90 are rolled or cast and each forms an inner track|02. Rollers |04, one of which is shown, are each provided with acircumferential groove |06, which groove is of inverted configuration tothe inner track and which engages the inner track |92 to guide themovement of the rollers |94 along the tracks. The rollers |04 arerotatably carried on the opposite extremities of rods |0| which rods aresecured to one side of each of the shelves 42, as has been explained.The tracks |99 are secured to the top 24 by brackets |88 which arescrewed to the top by screws I9.

In all of the embodiments, the shelves 42 bearing the displays can beexamined in successive order without the necessity of turning theshelves and in this manner, the display being displaced is visiblethroughout the entire displacing operation. This is advantageous in thatit is time saving for the clerk and the customer. Also, in view of thefact that one or any number of shelves can be swung to the left, asshown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, any two pieces of the material in thedisplace device can be placed side by side for comparison for decidingon color scheme.

Another advantage of my present invention is that a plurality of samplesmay be carried by each shelf and due to the fact that the shelf can bemaintained in a substantially horizontal position throughout itsdisplacement, the samples will not be overturned. Thus for example allsamples of the same pattern but of different colors or similar patternsmay be attached to a single shelf and all displaced simultaneously whileinsuring quick handling without the disturbance of upsetting thesamples. Preferably the upper samples are cut away as at H2 in suchmanner so that the next lower sample is also visible which in turn iscut away as at ||3 so that the next lower sample is also visible etc.

The bar 68 holds all of the samples on a shelf in position when theshelf is swung to the left as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5. Also itcan be movably adjusted so that the upper samples can be thrown back tomore clearly show the samples therebelow.

While the forms of embodiments of the present invention as hereindisclosed constitute preferred forms, it is to be understood that otherforms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims whichfollow.

I claim:

1. A display device for a plurality of movable display shelves adaptedto be stacked in one position and removed and stacked in an adjacentposition for displaying, comprising in combination, means forming abase; a plurality of shelves adapted to be stacked on said base; meansforming a guide track, said track comprising two sections rising withrespect to the base, said sections being spaced from one another atleast the width of the shelves, and a track section interconnecting therising sections; and means pivotally connecting one end of each of saidshelves to the guide track whereby the opposite end of said shelves arefreely movable, said connecting means being movable along the guidetrack.

2. A display device for a plurality of movable display shelves adaptedto be stacked in one position and removed and stacked in an adjacentposition for displaying, comprising in combination, a base member havingmeans forming a pair of guide tracks on opposite sides of the base, saidtracks each comprising two sections rising with respect to the base,said sections being spaced from one another at least the width of theshelves, and a section interconnecting the rising sections; a pluralityof stacked shelves disposed on said base and between the rising sectionsof the guide tracks; and means adjacent one end of each of said shelvesand on opposite edges thereof for pivotally connecting the shelves tothe guide tracks, said means being movable along the guide tracks.

ROBERT L. JOYCE.

I CERTIFICATE OF' CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,17'Lh9lr2. october 5. 1939.

v -A ROBERT L. JOYCE.

It is hereby certified that lerror appears in the printed specificationof the above nwnbered patent requiring correction as follows Page 5,second column, line )48, claim l, strike out the word "`track" and thatthe said Letters 'Patent should be read with this correction thereinthat the same may conform te the record ef the case 1n the Patentoffice.

"Signed and sealed this' 19th day of December, A. D. 1959.

Henry IVan Arsdale, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents..

